Cultivation is just so scientific!

Standing in front of the Spirit Mechanism Pavilion, Li Shiming was slightly startled—the grand doors of the pavilion were concealed by a layer of fog.

To enter the Spirit Mechanism Pavilion, one had to pass through the foggy area ahead.

"Could this be the first test of the assessment?" he speculated in his mind.

The fog posed no challenge to him, for it was merely a simple Five Elements Confusion Array, the exact type of Formation he was in the process of arranging with his Five Elements Array Flags.

Inside the Spirit Mechanism Pavilion, a handsome middle-aged man was reading while keeping an eye on the situation outside the pavilion.

The Five Elements Confusion Array at the entrance was the first barrier he set up to block the candidates.

If one couldn't even break through the most elementary Five Elements Confusion Array, then what assessment were they talking about?

At the same time, he had no desire to be disturbed by laymen. Being assigned to guard the Spirit Mechanism Pavilion was unfortunate enough, much less having to assess the novices. It was something he was reluctant to do.

"This kid's going to have a rough time!" the handsome middle-aged man muttered to himself, shaking his head.

The way Li Shiming entered the Five Elements Confusion Array was vastly different from the normal approach to breaking the Formation; it was as if he were a cultivator who knew nothing about Arrays.

He just walked straight into the Five Elements Confusion Array without any semblance of skill.

As the simplest Formation, the Five Elements Confusion Array had no offensive power and only caused those who entered to lose their sense of direction. Those unfamiliar with Formations would wander aimlessly within.

With luck, they might exit where they entered; with bad luck, they could be trapped inside, waiting for rescue.

Of course, as a simple Formation, the Five Elements Confusion Array had another way to be broken—that was with a powerful attack.

The ordinary Array Flags used for the Five Elements Confusion Array couldn't withstand overly strong spiritual power attacks. If the flags were destroyed, the Formation would naturally be broken as well.

But such a method would not be approved in the Basic-level Array Master assessment, and doing so at Dui Peak might very well ensure that one never leaves the place.

Naturally, Li Shiming wasn't wandering aimlessly. The lines of Spiritual Power were clear in his eyes; each step he took carefully avoided those lines.

The flaws of a simple Formation are numerous. They might not be considered flaws by other cultivators, but to Li Shiming, the operation of the Five Elements Confusion Array was entirely predictable.

"Hey, the kid's got some skills!" The handsome middle-aged man perked up, putting down the book he was reading.

At this moment, Li Shiming took direct steps and passed through the Five Elements Confusion Array. The handsome middle-aged man did not believe this to be a coincidence.

With a flick of his finger, the middle-aged man dropped an Array Plate in front of Li Shiming, which activated instantly.

"Let's see if you can also break the Small Nine Palace Illusion Array!" he murmured, raising an eyebrow.

Li Shiming paused in his tracks as countless towering trees appeared before him, so tall they seemed to reach the heavens and obscure the sky.

His inheritance of Formations was not from the Sky Sea Sect, so he was not familiar with the Heavenly Sea's Formation system.

But the foundations of Arrays are interconnected, and after a brief hesitation, his pace never stopped again.

His steps, sometimes quick, sometimes slow, casually took him out of the Small Nine Palace Illusion Array.

The handsome middle-aged man thought about throwing a more complex Array Plate, but remembering that this was an assessment, not a competition of Arrays, he stopped himself.

He watched Li Shiming with a somewhat complex look, because the manner in which Li Shiming broke the Formation was too bizarre; even he, the master of the Array, could not accomplish the feat with such ease.

Once could be a coincidence, but twice was a sign of talent—a formidable talent for Arrays.

"Greetings, Uncle Master!" Li Shiming, noticing the only cultivator in the great hall and feeling the imposing aura that only a Foundation Establishment Cultivator possessed, respectfully bowed and saluted.

"You've passed, bring out your Identity Jade Disc," said the handsome middle-aged man with a smile.

Li Shiming was initially taken aback, then realized that the two Arrays he had encountered were part of the assessment.

He took out his Identity Jade Disc and handed it to the handsome middle-aged man, who took it and operated on another Jade Disc, handing the new one back to him.

"With the Identity Jade Disc of a Basic-level Array Master, you can connect to the Sect Formation within a thousand li of the nine peaks," the handsome middle-aged man explained with a smile, "and receive tasks from other Array Masters. If you are excellent enough, the rewards for these tasks are very generous!"

Li Shiming looked at his new Identity Jade Disc and saw that his original information was completely retained, but this new Jade Disc was clearly more refined and made of vastly different materials than the previous one.

It was only at this moment that he truly felt the distinction of being an Array Master.

He had attained the rank of Intermediate Spirit Plant Cultivator, yet his Identity Jade Disc had never been changed, but having just become a Basic-level Array Master, he was given a superior Identity Jade Disc—the difference was stark.

"Moreover, there's no need to go to the Hidden Technique Pavilion to exchange for knowledge on Arrays. You can directly use good deeds to exchange for relevant knowledge through your Identity Jade Disc."

"Much of this Array knowledge is not just collected by the sect; many Array Masters have researched these results themselves. If you wish to learn, you must pay the appropriate price!" the handsome middle-aged man continued to explain.

"Thank you for the information, Uncle Master!" Li Shiming expressed his gratitude.

Suddenly, with a 'boom,' the entire Sect Formation trembled, followed by an extremely terrifying aura that flew out from within the sect.

Thankfully, he had practiced Body Refining Techniques, allowing him to stand his ground without falling.

The handsome middle-aged man's complexion was not good either; his eyes gazed at the sky, flickering with shock.

"What grave situation has occurred? All the Elders have personally been mobilized!" the handsome middle-aged man murmured to himself.